Playoffs!!!? Playoffs?!?!

Less than two weeks before Selection Saturday, the announcement of the state football playoff pairings, which has become one of the biggest nights in the high school sports season.

Here's a look at the prospects for the Mid-Suburban League, St. Viator and Leyden with the current record and probable playoff points. The probable points are based on what's likely to happen with the qualifying or potential qualifying team's opponents the last two games. Five wins are needed for an at-large berth in the 256-team field but no guarantee for inclusion (see Barrington last year).

WELCOME BACK
Barrington (6-1, 43-46 points)
Last year the Broncos were one of the 5-win teams left out of the field as a five-year run of playoff appearances ended. Now their only worries will be who they'll be playing and where. Winning the last two with their points would mean an opener on their beautiful new turf.

HIGH FIVE
Fremd (5-2, 42-45 points)
The longest playoff streak in MSL history will reach 14 seasons. At 7-2 they might have a shot at a home game.

PICK SIX WOULD BE BETTER
Prospect (5-2, 37-39 points)
Knights got in with 5 wins last year but would rather not take that chance this time. Points are usually enough to get in but a sixth win would make for a much easier Selection Saturday.

Palatine (5-2, 36-38 points)
Pirates had a lot more points last year when they got in with 6 wins. Winning out could give them the automatic MSL West qualifier.

FRIDAY'S WINNER WILL BE IN
Conant (4-3, 42-44 points) at Schaumburg (4-3, 50 points)
It's basically a playoff to reach the playoffs. Both teams are beneficiaries of MSL West's 14-4 advantage in MSL crossovers - where Conant played Prospect and Meadows and Schaumburg played Wheeling and Prospect - and Schaumburg's opener with undefeated Maine South. A win also keeps Conant's hopes for a division title alive. Not bad for two teams figured for the bottom of the division.

BETTER GET TO SIX
Wheeling (5-2, 31-34 points)
Some years the points would be enough to get in the playoffs but it's definitely no certainty. Wildcats were in same position last year when they won finale.

TRYING TO KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE
Rolling Meadows (3-4, 39-41 points)
The Mustangs' five-year playoff streak is on the line as they need to beat Hersey and Buffalo Grove (another potential playoff for the playoffs) the next two weeks. Points should be enough to get in (crossovers with Barrington, Conant and Fremd) as they hope to duplicate the 2004 team that went from 2-4 and trailing in the fourth quarter of Week 7 to the 7A state semifinals.

GET TO FIVE AND HOPE FOR HELP
Buffalo Grove (3-4, 37 points)
The Bison need to beat Elk Grove and Meadows to have a shot at ending a four-year postseason drought. Crossovers with Barrington and Palatine help points, opener with Mundelein team that likely got its only win last week didn't, but 37 usually enough to qualify.

St. Viator (3-4, 33-35 points)
First order of business is beating a Notre Dame team fighting for its playoff life this week and winning at St. Joseph, which isn't the automatic W it was in recent years. Lions would then be rooting for cross-town rival Hersey to pull an upset or two to add to their probable points and for Plainfield North to take a couple of winnable games.